Boots condemns site hack

The corporate Web site of Boots, the UK's largest chemist, was hacked Tuesday and the "Hackers Manifesto" -- an ancient hacker's text -- posted on its home page.

The manefesto, which was originally written in 1989, explains why many teenagers are drawn into computer hacking and criticising the punishment of computer hackers for experimentation with computer security. "My crime is that of curiosity... I am a hacker, and this is my manifesto. You may stop this individual, but you can't stop us all," says the original author, a hacker calling himself "Mentor".

Boots, however, was not impressed by Mentor's altruistic message. "The Web site is there for people who want to find out about the company," says a spokesman. "The last thing we want is for them to be inconvenienced by someone hacking it."

Boots says that the breakin was detected early this morning and the Web site returned to normal by 9am.

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